Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged people to pay close attention to weather warnings warning: “the ‘Beast from the East’ is coming our way”.

Heavy snowfall is expected that temperatures are set to plummet to -10 as cold weather sweeps in from the Siberia over the coming days.

Mr Varadkar said the government will be basing any advice issued to the public on forecasts from Met Éireann and it will involve warning people against making unnecessary journeys in the icy conditions.

He said: “We’re expecting very severe cold weather to affect Ireland in the coming days,” adding: “The ‘Beast from the East’ is coming our way.”

Mr Varadkar continued: “As things stand the weather warning has not yet issued but I’d ask people to pay close attention to any weather warnings and advice that is issued in the coming days.

“Where advice is issued in relation to workplaces and travel, that will be clear.